Defence has opted to replace Army’s fleet of sea boats through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case with the United States Navy (USN). Through the FMS case, which commenced in July 2024, Army will procure nine 11 metre Naval Special Warfare Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats from United States Marine Inc.
United States Marine Inc is the incumbent supplier for Army's Sea Boats. The current fleet is scheduled to be retired by 2028.
“The replacement sea boat will require the same training, logistics, sea worthiness and certification required for air transportation and deployment applicable to the current craft,” Defence explained in response to a Question on Notice (QoN).
The decision to procure via an FMS case followed the outcome of a Request for Tender (RFT) process that concluded in January 2023. Seven companies responded to the tender, and Defence spent $1.5 million on the process before the decision was made to pursue the capability through an FMS case with the USN.
“The tender process’s failure to provide an affordable option that met operational requirements, and the cancellation of the request for tender, placed Army’s maritime interdiction capability at risk,” Defence said in a QoN response.
“The outcome of the tender evaluation resulted in the cancellation of the request for tender. Army agreed with this decision.”
Notably, according to the information provided by Defence to the Senate, the FMS process does not currently include Navy’s fleet of sea boats.
“An alternate strategy was required to develop options to either extend through refurbishment or replace the in-service air droppable sea boat within an acceptable timeframe. Army determined replacing the existing fleet with a like-for-like platform from the current vendor, United States Marine Inc, presented the best value for a vessel of similar, but not lesser, capability on the basis of cost and schedule.”
Neither Defence, the USN, or United States Marine Inc have disclosed the cost of the acquisition.